The details sound like something out of a television crime drama. But this wasn't fiction.

Federal prosecutors said a dungeon inside the basement of a Beechmont Street home was created for the purpose of abusing children.

“It is fiction,” neighbor Alicia Jackson said about the crime shows on television. “It's not next door to you.”

Federal prosecutors detailed Monday in U.S. District Court here that a city man maintained a dungeon — with a child-sized coffin and other torture devices — in his basement. Some neighbors knew something was wrong when authorities removed Geoffrey Portway from his home at 31-2 Beechmont St. last year, but didn't know all the disturbing details.

“Not only did he try to molest children, but he took it beyond, the next step,” said Ms. Jackson who lives very near Mr. Portway's former home. “He wanted to murder them, to eat them. Can you get any sicker than that?”

As the sun warmed the tree-lined Beechmont Street Tuesday morning, children could be heard playing at a nearby home. But disturbing the warmth of the day for neighbors were the chilly details of Mr. Portway's alleged actions. He now faces almost 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty Monday to charges of distributing and possessing child pornography and soliciting someone online to kidnap a child. He will be sentenced in August.

Neighbors described Mr. Portway as a quiet man. He didn't talk much and came and went mostly at night. His former home appears now to be part of a two-unit residence. One neighbor, who didn't want to be identified, recalled a Halloween trip to the home a few years ago. His children walked up a glow-stick lighted pathway to a box filled with candy. The box had Ziploc bags packed with full-sized candy bars.

“I'm thankful that my kids are OK,” the neighbor said. “It is a frightening thought.”

The Worcester Detective Bureau and Police Cyber Crime Unit assisted federal authorities with the investigation. Detective Brian Bisceglia of the Cyber Crime Unit has collaborated with various agencies to gain intelligence regarding these types of crimes.

The department said having relationships with other law enforcement agencies is needed in cybercrime, as computer networks span the world.

Worcester police said, “At this time, it appears that there are no local victims associated with this investigation.”

Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said all the agencies involved worked hard to get Mr. Portway off the streets. He has been in federal custody since his arrest last year.

“A dangerous criminal predator is now off the streets and can no longer conspire to prey on innocent children,” the chief said. “These are horrific crimes and all of the agencies involved with this case should be praised for their commitment to working tirelessly to pursue those who harm and victimize children.”

Federal court records said Mr. Portway, 40, had the sound-proofed dungeon for the purpose of abusing children.

“This dungeon was described in detail by Portway in recovered (online) chats as a place he intended to use to keep kidnapped children while he sexually abused them and as a place to eventually murder and cannibalize the children,” federal documents said.

When federal and local authorities searched Mr. Portway's West Side home on July 27, 2012, they seized computer equipment and discovered tens of thousands of images and videos showing children being raped and tortured. Some images showed dead children, federal documents said.

The dungeon was then discovered behind a locked door. A steel cage, child-sized homemade coffin and butchering tools were inside.

Robert Benoit, who lives a couple of doors away, learned about the case through media reports. He has lived in the neighborhood for a few months.

“I can only imagine what it (the dungeon) looks like and it terrifies me,” he said. “There are a lot of kids in this neighborhood.”

Ms. Jackson saw the swarm of law enforcement officials converge on Mr. Portway's home last year. She called him a quiet guy then quickly added, “My dogs hated him.”

She said: “This happened almost a year ago and I still can't believe someone like that exists in this world.”

Mr. Portway was snared in an international investigation into the molestation and exploitation of children that began when a Milford man was arrested in 2010. The Homeland Security probe has since resulted in the arrest of about 51 suspects and the identification and rescue of more than 160 children in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Mr. Portway, a citizen of the United Kingdom, exchanged gruesome photographs of children with others online. He tried to solicit a Kansas man to abduct a child. Authorities allege Mr. Portway intended to rape, kill and eat the child.

Mr. Portway could be sentenced to 18 to just over 27 years in federal prison, according to a plea agreement filed in court. He is to be deported after his imprisonment.

“Thank God he's off the streets,” District 1 City Councilor Anthony J. Economou said. “It is unbelievable and even more reason to be vigilant with your kids and your surroundings. I'm so happy they got him.”

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